Menendez: We don’t have 60 votes for immigration reform bill

One of the chief authors of the Senate’s Gang of Eight immigration bill is still hunting around for 60 votes in his chamber.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said in an interview set to be aired Sunday that the Gang of Eight does not have the votes necessary to break a potential filibuster on the Senate floor — at least right now.

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“We don’t currently have 60 votes identified in the Senate,” Menendez said on “Al Punto” with Jorge Ramos, according to an English-translated transcript provided by Univision. “We need to add more votes on the floor.”

Menendez added, “That means that the community in your state, in every state, should be contacting your state’s two U.S. senators saying that they want comprehensive immigration reform, that they are going to judge their political future based on this vote.”

Democrats hold 55 votes in the Senate, and there are four members of the Gang of Eight who are Republicans. But not all Democratic votes are assured – particularly those of senators who hail from more conservative states.

And while the bill’s proponents picked up one more Republican vote in the committee this week – from Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch – he said his vote is not guaranteed on the Senate floor unless lawmakers adopt his four amendments concerning tax and benefit provisions.

Still, Menendez said he was optimistic that he and the bill’s backers could find more “yes” votes during what is expected to be a long debate on the Senate floor over the immigration bill. The legislation passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 13-5 vote earlier this week.

“We are expecting that and working for that,” Menendez said. Other Gang of Eight members have said they are hoping for upwards of 70 votes ultimately in favor of the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said the immigration debate will start in the Senate either the week of June 3 or June 10. Menendez said in the interview that June 10 appears more likely.